The roof is expected to be installed by the summer of 2006.

Although the details will not be known until tomorrow’s press conference, Wimbledon officials have inspected the facilities at Halle in Germany where the PVC fabric covering takes just 90 seconds to deploy.

The retractable roof is likely to put an end to the prospect of tennis fan Cliff serenading the crowd while they wait for a break in the showers.

For the players, it will reduce the risk of falling hostage to the weather.

Tim Henman, who famously lost a rain-interrupted semi-final to Goran Ivanisevic in 2001, has given his cautious backing to the plans although he remained concerned about its impact on the famous grass courts.

The British number one said: “If they have got the technology then I wouldn’t be against it.

“I used to be against the roof but I’ve seen it at other tournaments and I think for the spectators and the TV it’s important to keep the show rolling.

“The biggest problem has been whether there was the technology to make sure the grass wasn’t affected because it would be very humid.

“On a grass court you have got to be very careful because if you damage a court it is not going to repair overnight.”